National Flag of India

National Flag of India is a rectangular shaped Tricolour flag describing the glory of our nation. The national flag symbolizes the freedom and dominion status of India. India is a diverse country; national flag represents its cultural and religious harmony. The flag represents our nation and it also shows the sacrifices and the brave steps taken by our freedom fighter for making our nation independent from the British Empire. National Flag of India is commonly referred to as ‘Tiranga’.

Information about National Flag

There is a journey behind our tricolour flag; the Flag we see today has also carried some remarkable historical stories and events. From the colour to the fabric used in the Indian National flag each has its own significance. On every national festival i.e. Independence Day, Republic Day, Naval Day, Armed Forces Day and other national day’s national Flag hoisting ceremony is organized.

History of National Flag

From the first national revolt against British rulers till 1947, National flag was designed and represented in various forms. Let’s have a look at the history behind the Indian National flag:

• British rulers introduced the western Heraldic culture flag. After the revolt of 1850, it depicted Union Jack and Star representing the British Empire over the Indian national.
• From the Indian context, Western Heraldic Flag was not relevant as it represents the British Empire.
• On 22 August 1907, after the Bengal division Bhikaji Cama introduced “Flag of Indian Independence”.
• This flag was also lacking in the concept of nationalism, then the importance of a single National flag was needed and various states and other nationalists have a look on it.
• In 1916, Pingali Venkayya proposed thirty new designs for the Indian National Flag; this flag design booklet was financed by Members of the High Court of Madras.
• The design of Pingali Venkayya was finalised and his concept was taken for further aspects.

Middle History of Indian Flag

In April 1921 Mahatma Gandhi, in his journal, proposed the need of flag. And the concept of Spinning Wheel/Charkha in it was introduced by Lala Hans Raj to promote Charkha used for the production of khadi. Swaraj Movement was in its full swing and not only Gandhiji but every citizen of the country has highly supported the concept of Swadeshi products. After various discussions, Gandhi authorised Pengali Venkayya for designing a Flag with the Spinning Wheel on the middle of it.

In the same year, at Congress, Session Gandhi introduced his final design for the National Flag. It was comprised of Red, White and Green Colour with an image of spinning wheel on the centre of it. He described Red colour for the Hindu population living in India, Green for Muslim population and White for All other religions. But this religious description was taken as a very sensitive issue.

Later he described the colours as Red for the sacrifice made by our freedom fighters, Green colour for hope and white colour for purity.

Who Designed the First National Flag/Who made First Indian Flag?

After reading the historical journey of the Indian National Flag, we are going to provide some of the important things related to the first Indian national flag. First Indian Flag was raised by Bhikaji Cama on 22 August 1907 at the socialist Conference in Stuttgart, Germany. This flag was taken from the Calcutta and it was designed and introduced after the Bengal Division.

• Size: The size and structure of the first Indian Independence flag was in rectangular form.
• Design: The flag had Green, Yellow and Red Strips and there were eight lotuses were designed on the top green colour and in middle yellow strip Vande Matram slogan was written in Hindi and in the bottom red stripe of the flag there was a crescent moon and a sun designed on it.
• Colour: The Green Colour represented Muslim Community, Yellow colour represented the Buddhist community and red colour represented the Hindu community in the Bhikaji Cama Flag.

Who designed the Final National Flag/Who made Final Indian Flag?

The Design proposed by Pingali Venkayya was taken as the final national flag for the whole nation. On 23 June 1947 Constituent Assembly finalised the national flag and few days before the Independence day committee recommended the Indian National Congress to adopt the flag as the national flag of India. National Flag Committee was under the supervision of Rajendra Prasad; Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Sarojini Naidu, C. Rajagopalachari, K. M. Munshi and B. R.  Ambedkar were the members.

On 22 July 1947, Congress finalised the Tricolour(Tiranga) as Indian National Flag, the Latest Flag adopted by the Congress is the Flag today we see, it is the improvised version of previous congress flag. Previously spinning wheel was in the centre of the flag and it was comprised of white green and red colour strip. The spinning wheel is now replaced by Ashoka Chakra adapted from the Ashoka Stambh, depicting eternal wheel of law.

Here we are going to provide you with the size, colour and design of our Indian national flag (Tiranga):

• Size: As per the Flag code of India the Indian flag has a length to breadth ratio of 3:2. All three coloured stripes are in an equal ratio of width and length, there must be 24 spokes of the wheel in a defined space from each other. The standard size of the Indian National flag is 6300 X 4200 mm in length and 1295 mm will be the size of the Ashoka Chakra.
• Design: Our Indian National flag is in a rectangular shape. The Design and manufacturing of the Flag are regulated by the Bureau of Indian Standards and it is stated that All Indian national flags will be made up of Khadi or Khadi Silk fabric.
• Colour: It has three colours of saffron, white and green, representing different meanings.

What Tri-Colour and Ashok Chakra in the National Flag Represents/Means

Our Indian National Flag is also called Tiranga or Tricolour, it consists of three colours Saffron, White and Green and a Spoke Wheel in the centre of the flag. Now, we are going to provide you What Tri-colour and Ashok Chakra in National flag represents:

• Saffron Colour: It represents the strength, courage and sacrifice made by our great freedom fighters.
• White Colour: It represents the peace, truth and unity in diversity.
• Green Colour: It represents culture, fertility and growth. The green colour also represents purity and auspiciousness of the land.
• Ashok Chakra: The navy blue Wheel in the centre of the flag consists of 24 spokes and it is taken from the Ashoka Stambh, Sarnath. Each spoke of the wheel is defined by Hindu religion as the pillars of love, courage, patience, peacefulness, magnanimity, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and other pillars.

National Flag Adoption Day

Each year on 22, July National Flag Adoption Day is celebrated. On 22 July 1947 national flag of India was adopted by the Indian Constituent Assembly and it is officially declared that the tricolour will be our national flag. The design was of the flag was made by Pingali Venkayya.

As in our previous discussion we have discussed the journey of our Indian national flag, it reveals that few days before the independence day under the supervision on Rajendra Prasad and other flag committee members, the national flag was finalised and the design we see today was adopted as our national flag. In the memory of our national flag, we celebrate this glorious day each year.

Importance of National Flag for Indian Citizens

A full of the patriotic statement given by the late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru is “a flag not only of freedom for ourselves but a symbol of freedom to all people.” The statement says that:

• Our national flag does not represent our country but it is also the pride of each Indian.
• The colours itself speaks the story behind the freedom and the sacrifices made by our brave freedom fighters. It is the symbol of sovereignty, integrity and similarity.
• There is a total of 29 states and 9 union territories in India and all are represented by single Flag.
• Flag bound all the cultural diversity in one single thread and it represents the unity under diversity among the states.

Important Facts about the National Flag of India

National Flag of India gives our national recognition in the world and it represents our cultural and religious diversity in a single flag. Now, we are going to highlight some of the interesting facts about the Indian national flag:

• The first Indian flag was hosted first time on an international platform in Germany.
• Flag Code of India is a regulatory body of conducting laws and protocols in favour of the Indian flag.
• Ministry of Home Affairs regulates the protocol of the Indian flag and another national symbol.
• In 2002, the Supreme Court of India has permitted to general Indian public for hosting flag in their home and offices.
• If the flag is displaying on a pole then it must be draped properly and mounted at a right angle from the ground.
• There are several norms for the Indian Flag that it must not be used as a table cloth or not be taken in rough use.
• Every Indian should be aware of the importance of our national flag.

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions